1. Don't mind me, I'm new...

I've always been good at it, as long as I can remember. No wonder why I had so few friends back then...

A second-year Hufflepuff had just entered my box, and I wasn't willing to share. At least, not with a girl having her first pubic reactions to the world. My puberty had been harsh enough not to cope with someone else's too, even for a few hours... I put up my special power once again.

The girl sat as far as she could from me, but I kept staring at her, quietly but obviously. Not in a bad, but not in a good way either. Just staring at her, maybe like I was seeing something extremely odd.

My power touched...again. After a while, she stood up, gathered her things and left the box. I could breathe again. I kept looking through the window when I heard four people coming towards.

- Here we go, I whispered for myself.

I still remember what I felt when they entered. Joy, hate, amusement, longing, anger, all mixed up because all four were so different.

Remus came to sit opposite me, but soon got up again as I went to hug him.

- It's been too long, I told him in his ear though I knew each one of the rest would hear.

- I'm glad to see you too, Val', he answered grinning.

God I love that guy. Probably the only friend I ever had, and will ever get.

- Guys, this is Vala Emerald, he said turning to the remaining three. Vala, these are...

- Rem', I know them. I've been in your house for seven year, ring any bell? I interrupted.

Sometimes, he himself seemed to forget about that. He blushed a little and shot me a "sorry" glance.

- You're in our house? Wow, how on Earth did I not notice you? then said the most charming and unbearable voice I knew.

Sirius Black. Sex-on-legs, and yet asshole as I never encountered before. Thank God until that moment he didn't know I even existed.

I didn't even bother to reply, and simply turned to James Potter, who I knew a little, seeing that he was madly in love (or obsessed, even) with my room-mate, Lily.

- It's been a while, James.

- Yep, he said while squeezing my hand.

I could see that he was gazing at Sirius behind me, but didn't give a shit what happened in his egocentric world.

We sat down again and Remus started talking casually with all of us at once, probably, as I knew him, trying to make Sirius' pulse go down. I could hear it as loudly as if I had my ear on his chest, but God knows I didn't want to tempt the adventure.

o°o°o°o

- Hey, girlie, said his voice again after a few hours. The sky was already getting darker, though only eyes like mine could see it yet.

I jumped out of my skin, but pretended that it was due to a very other reason than the first one.

- Oh, shit, for a mo I hoped you had left, I said coldly as an iceberg.

Remus rose his eyebrows but didn't comment. Sirius, who she could see in the corner of her eye, was on his part building up an answer. I got up and headed for the door, taking my school robes above James' head before getting out.

- I'm only heading to the loos. Hope you don't miss me too much until I come back, Rem'.

I punctuated with a wink, and Remus started to laugh. Never mind, he knew what I was doing.

While dressing up, I remembered for a split second what had made me change so much in a month. The pain stabbed me again as I saw his face enter my mind again.

Darren. My ex-boyfriend who decided to throw me away after our holidays together in Italy. Never wanted to die so badly. But when the pain stopped a bit, or faded a little would be better word, I took a decision that had changed my life ever since. Thank Merlin I didn't get worse than I was...

I've always had been shy, like madly shy, when I was at school. Mainly because of Sirius, or Mister Hot-Potatoe as I called him in my diary. Seeing that he failed to notice me, as everyone except Remus did, I started hating him, at first for not being the centre of his attention, and then more and more because of what he was growing up to be. An asshole womaniser. Holy shit!

Vala Emerald had changed skin during that summer, and only Remus knew about it, and the reason why. And now she had been noticed, what on Earth was she going to do to avoid him from stalking her? She knew him too well to be oblivious: he was good at charming.

What a shame. I was even better at coldness bitchy things.

o°o°o°o

When I got back to the box, Peter had already disappeared, probably looking out for the trolley. I never understood how he managed not to grow fatter and fatter over the years, he was eating a house a day.

Remus grinned as I entered sighing. I grinned back, but I knew the smile didn't reach my eyes.

- Is it all right, miss? asked Sirius on the tone of casual conversation with an idiot fangirl of his.

Once more, I completely ignored him and sat next to Remus this time, putting my head on his shoulder. He put one of my hair out of my face.

- You seem exhausted, pup, he whispered while I was already getting asleep.

- Yeah, well, I had an argument with my dad this morning.

- Oh.

I sensed him frown.

- It's okay, I locked myself in my room until my temper got down. Ate a lot of meat after that, almost emptied the fridge.

He silently laughed and I bounced on his shoulder. That made me fall asleep even more easily.

o°o°o°o

When I emerged of the numbness, I didn't make it clear I was awake at first, and let my ears wander.

Remus had stayed in the very same position I'd left him in. I could imagine his arm was sour now, and thought of apologizing. Then, Mister Bloddy-Hell started talking again.

- I don't know where you found that one. Completely insane she is...

I could only guess who he was talking about.

- Only because she doesn't like you? Remus whispered trying not to wake me.

- She doesn't like me, yeah, easily said as she is sleeping on your shoulder, you git... No girl on this bloody planet ever hates me. Give me two minutes and she'll kill to kiss me...

- You underestimate Vala. And Pads...try not to drive her mad. You could lose an eye or two during the process.

I remember I internally grinned. Oooh, how cute he was warning the prat not to drive me mad. Too late, the sound of his voice already made me want to rip him into pieces... But that was a feeling I was used to by then.

I yawned and pretended to wake up. It was completely dark outside. We would be arriving at Hogwarts soon.

- How long did I sleep, Rem'? I asked faking numbness again.

- More than a hour, he answered. My arm can tell.

I automatically sat up again, shooting him a poor look that made him grin.

- I'll live, he said poking me.

I grinned back. How much I missed him struck me then. He really was the only friend I had.

I looked quickly at Black, who was staring at me as if I was an odd animal? Great, taking my own medicine! And weirdly, I didn't find it uncomfortable at all. That was a change.

- See something you're jealous of? You'd prefer if you could sleep on Moony's shoulder perhaps? I grinned as if he was a five-year-old.

Surprised shot over his face, then anger.

- You! ...

Lily entered like a bolt in the compartment.

- Ah, there you are! she shouted at Remus. I was looking out for you! Follow me, if you please, Pr Slughorn wants to see us. You too, Pottprat, she added before grinning in my direction. Hey, Vals!

She hadn't changed an inch. And James was still getting on her nerves. Or was he?

As they closed the door behind them, something struck me. I was alone with Sirius Black. Alone and...womanly.

As I looked for him, he was already sitting next to me, his arm over my head.

- So, Vala, then. Have you really been in Gryffindor all that time? That's a shame I didn't notice you. How is that even possible?

I turned at him with the most cold smile I could put on.

- You were probably looking where to put your broom up to, I said.

He laughed, and I knew that the bark-like sound I was listening to was not a coincidence.

- Well, I'm going to have to try harder, then.

And he put his best charming woman-killing smile on his perfect face. I kept staring, eyebrows up.

- You're really disappointing, I said before getting up. We're there, I added before getting out with my trunk.

I didn't give a damn what Sirius Black was thinking about me, I just wanted him to let me be. And stick up his wand where I hoped he would...

...

Jesus, is it me writing all that? OO

I got inspired, people. Two fan fictions at the same time about two completely different girls, and my one-shots still being written... Gosh!

Reviews highly approved of, if I get one then I'll be the happiest writer in the world! :)